An undead person commonly found in the spiritual belief system of voodoo. Zombies are humans who have had their soul stolen by supernatural means and are forced to work for their "zombie master". Another more morbid version, that are often portrayed in horror films, depict zombies as cannibalistic beings.

When first raised, their memories and personalities may be intact, and they can behave like normal, rational beings for several days before becoming violent and cannibalistic.[1][4] Methods of dispatch generally involve beheading, staking, or fire. Depending on the zombie, Sam and Dean appear to have varying success with each method. When Sam and Dean first encounter a zombie, a woman named Angela Mason, they seem overwhelmed by the amount of lore on the walking dead and how to kill them:

Dean: We can't just waste her with a head shot?

Sam: Dude, you've been watching way too many Romero flicks.

Dean: You're telling me there's no lore on how to smoke 'em?

Sam: No, Dean. I'm telling you there's too much. I mean, there's a hundred different legends on the walking dead, but they all have different methods for killing them. Some say setting them on fire, one said... where is it... right here: feeding their hearts to wild dogs. That's my personal favorite. But who knows what's real and what's myth?

They shoot Angela Mason in the chest and head with silver bullets, which seems to slow her down but has no lasting effect other than making her angry. Other lore Sam finds suggests "nailing the undead back into their grave beds," so Dean stakes Angela in her coffin, finally dispatching her.[1] When they encounter zombies a second time, Dean stakes two zombies in their coffins to dispatch them.[3]

The next time they encounter zombies is in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Sam says that they can be killed with a headshot.[4] Like ghouls, it seems that obliterating their heads, not something that Sam and Dean attempted with Angela,[1] can kill them.[4] Those infected with the Croatoan virus can also be killed by shooting.

In Wilkes-Barr, Pennsylvania they encounter another group of zombies that was created by the Thule Society. The reanimated men could be killed with a head shot but will come back to life unless burned within twelve hours.[2]

Characteristics

Excerpt from the Book of Revelation, detailing the rising of the dead.

These vary according to the type of zombie involved. So far within the show there have been five types; the first being a person who has been reanimated through the use of black magic, the second being "Croats" - people afflicted with the Croatoan virus, the third being the more traditional cannibalistic zombies who were resurrected by Death, the fifth were people who had adverse reactions to the Leviathan food additive - becoming "mottled wretches," and finally Nazi necromancers.

Episodes

Angela Mason is raised from the dead by a friend who had a crush on her using an ancient Greek ritual. She goes around killing those who have wronged her. Her presence causes plants in the vicinity to die. Eventually Sam and Dean kill her by luring her back to her grave, and staking her in her own coffin.

The Leviathans develop a plot to control the population. Dr. Gaines synthesizes a food additive which he has put into turducken which is served in a sandwich at a Biggerson's in New Jersey. It is very addictive, and consumption leads to weight gain, and dampens people's emotional responses until they are very apathetic. After cooking, the tainted turducken will revert back to the grey goo state.

However in 0.03% of cases consumption results in "hyper-adrenalised cannibalism" in which people turn become super strong, homicidal and cannibalistic. Dick Roman sees this side effect as a drawback, as it draws attention to their plans - and raises the specter that monsters do exist.

In World War II the Thule Society, led by Commandant Eckhart, carried out magical experiments on Jewish people in Vitsyebsk, Belarus that eventually led him and his followers to reanimate the dead. He wrote these notes in his red ledger. After Eckhart was forced to flee and leave his red ledger behind because of the arrival of the Golem, both the Thule Society and the Judah Initiative began searching for the book. Rabbi Bass found the book first, but was killed by Torvald, a follower of the Thule. The book and the Golem were passed on to Rabbi Bass' grandson Aaron, but they were eventually found by Eckhart and captured. They escaped and killed Eckhart and his men, whose bodies they burned to make sure none of them would return. The book is then kept safe by Sam and Dean while Aaron vows that he will continue on the work of his grandfather and the Judah Initiative and look after the Golem.

After learning of a man who died in a hit and run and has come back to life, Sam and Dean believe him to be a zombie, but he turns out to be the Greek TitanPrometheus - who is cursed to die each day and come back to life.

After stealing the Black Grimoire sisters Jamie and Jennie Plum use the book to bring back their deceased mother. Believing they do not need the help of Rowena to perform the spell, their inexperience and unfamiliarity with the Druidic glyphs, they are only able to complete the first step of the ritual, which brings their mother back to life as a mindless, brain eating zombie.

When Rowena tracks the sisters down and attempts to get the book, the Plums sic their zombie mother on Rowena, who attempts to stop her with magic, only to learn that a side effect of the spell has made their zombie mother impervious to all magics. As Rowena tries to lock herself in the Plum's kitchen, she offers to fully bring their mother back, but the Plum sisters refuse, believing they will figure it out on their own. Mrs. Plum is soon able to break through as Sam and Dean arrive and fight the sisters. In a dire situation, Rowena asks for help from the Winchesters, who suggests she shoot the zombie in the head. Rowena is then able to get a hold of one of the Winchester's guns and is able to put down the zombie Plum.

Widespread distribution of the virus is planned using a new vaccine being produced by Niveus Pharmaceuticals - one contaminated with the Croataon virus. The vaccine is being rushed to stem an outbreak of flu caused by Pestilence. This potential disaster is prevented when Bobby, Sam and Castiel blow up the distribution warehouse - although only after battling some zombies.

Zombies in Lore

Zombie is a term used to describe a hypnotized person bereft of consciousness and self-awareness, yet ambulant and able to respond to surrounding stimuli. Of voodoo origin, the word initially referred to a curse cast by sorcerers (or bokors) allowing them to take control of a person's mind, therefore affecting his or her actions. However, due to significant influence of Haitian Vodou and New Orleans Voodoo on witchcraft mythology, this meaning soon morphed into that of a human corpse mysteriously reanimated to serve the undead. Since the late 19th century, zombies have acquired notable popularity, especially in North American and European folklore.[10]

In popular culture, zombies take a number of forms. There are those raised from the dead by a spell or ritual or reanimated by some supernatural event (such as the movies of George Romero), or people turned into mindless violent cannibals by a virus (such as in the movie 28 Days Later or the Resident Evil franchise). Some are mindless, shuffling monsters - others cunning and quick. Methods of dispatch generally involve beheading, staking or fire.